Frequently Asked Questions

Greeting message explaining the Frequently Asked Questions page.

Comfort

Do these procedures hurt?
Comfort is what Bair Medical Spa is all about. You sense this when you first walk though the door into the tranquil waiting area. Our attentive staff will offer bottled water or hot tea to help you start to relax as music plays gently in the background. In the treatment room, you will be wrapped in a warm plush robe as the staff prepares you for your treatment. Our staff is specially trained to make your experience as comfortable as possible. Often we use a SynerCool machine to gently blow cool air on your skin. We may also apply numbing cream, use local anesthetic techniques or even use oral medication to ensure that you remain as comfortable as possible.

Hair Removal

How does the DSL Applicator get rid of my hair?
The DSL uses gentle light and electric energies to damage the hair follicle. This disables the follicle from growing hair, which means that gradually over several treatments, there is a permanent reduction in the amount of hair in that area.

Is treatment with the DSL safe?
Treatment is very safe for the skin. There are many advances in the DSL technology that make it one of the safest hair removal systems available for all skin colors. There are no long term health hazards from light or electric energies used in the DSL. Both have been used for decades in medicine, surgery, and aesthetics without adversity.

What kind of results can I expect from DSL treatment?
Each DSL treatment will result in less hair coming back, as well as hair growing progressively lighter in color, finer, and slower-growing with each treatment. It takes more than 1 treatment to affect all the follicles growing in an area. Most people achieve satisfactory clearance after 4-8 treatments, but individual results vary depending on medical and genetic factors. Lighter colored hair may require more treatments than darker colored hair.

How frequently do I need treatments?
The treatments are usually performed every 2-3 months, but this depends on individual factors that your clinician will discuss with you during consultation.

Does the treatment hurt?
The sensation is often described as a "hot pinch", or "snapping" feeling. The sensation only lasts for a fraction of a second, and you may feel warmth or tingling sensation for a short time afterward. Some people tolerate treatment without any topical anesthetic, which numbs the skin from feeling sensation.

What happens after each treatment?
Temporary pinkness in the skin lasts a very short time, and most people return to work or normal activities immediately after treatment. The treated area will "shed" some hairs over the next 3-4 weeks, and you may experience a period of hairlessness in the area while you wait for your next treatment.

Who should get DSL treatment for Hair Removal?
Anyone who wants a permanent solution to shaving, waxing, plucking, or electrolysis. There are a few medical conditions that contraindicate people from treatment which will be discussed with your clinician during consultation.

Mesotherapy

1. What is Mesotherapy?
Mesotherapy is a technique utilizing micro-injections of medications into the skin in an area of the body to achieve a therapeutic response. This is a very common procedure in Europe and South America. There are over 15,000 physicians in France alone who practice Mesotherapy. In general medicine, for example, it is used to treat pain, encourage hairgrowth, migraines and to help people stop smoking. It has gained its most popularity as a treatment for spot reduction, as a safer alternative to liposuction, cellulite removal and skin rejuvenation. For more information call for an appointment or go to our Mesotherapy procedure page.

2. How much does Mesotherapy cost?
The cost of Mesotherapy treatments range from $200 to $450 per treatment depending on the area treated and type of Mesotherapy treatment.

3. How many Mesotherapy treatments does it take?
The number of treatments primarily depends on the severity of the problem. Only a consultation and evaluation will determine how many you will need.

4. How often do your need Mesotherapy treatments?
Generally, the ideal treatment schedule is weekly.

5. Is Mesotherapy permanent?
Although there are no guarantees on how long a medical treatment will work, the treatment of cellulite seems to last many years for most patients. Spot reduction is more dependent on the patient maintaining a healthy lifestyle of proper diet and exercise. If a patient does not gain weight, the area that is reduced will remain so for a year and a half to several years. But, this is true for liposuction also.

6. Does Mesotherapy hurt?
Mesotherapy is well tolerated. We apply a special numbing cream to the area we are going to treat. Patients will occasionally feel a mild pricking sensation. (In Europe, they typically do not use any numbing cream!)

ReFirme

What it the ReFirme ST procedure?
The ReFirme ST procedure combines safe and effective levels of infrared light and bipolar radiofrequency (electric current) energies to remodel the dermal layer of the skin by stimulating new collagen growth. Both laser and radiofrequency have been used separately for decades in medicine and surgery, but the ST exclusively combines infrared light and bipolar radio-frequency energy for ideal treatment outcomes with a very low risk of side effects and virtually no down-time.

What can I expect from ReFirme ST treatments?
ST can improve skin laxity and sagginess of the face, neck and some body areas such as the abdomen or upper arms. Skin texture can also be smoothed out by the tightening and firming effect of treatment. This treatment is performed non-ablatively, which means this is a non-invasive procedure. Most people leave the treatment office with only slight pinkness or no pinkness at all. Patients can return to work immediately.

How many treatments are required?
Most patients will have between 3-5 treatments.

How often are treatments done?
Treatment sessions are typically 2-4 weeks apart.

How long do treatments take?
Each treatment session typically takes half an hour.

Does treatment hurt?
No, the ReFirme ST procedure is well tolerated by most patients without any topical anesthetic or other means of analgesia. The treatment tip is chilled so it provides contact cooling to the skin surface for added comfort.

Who should be treated with the ReFirme ST?
All skin colors can be treated with the ST for laxity, sagginess, loss of elasticity, or textural irregularities. Treatment can be done on face, neck, or certain body areas. Individual patient candidacy should be discussed with your elos clinician.

Are there any risks to treatment?
ANY medical aesthetic procedure has risk of side effects such as superficial blistering, crusting, and pigmentary changes in the skin. These risks are rare and usually quickly resolved.

Obagi™

1. What is Obagi™?
Obagi™ is a skin care system designed to restore and maintain healthy skin. It has two components: The Obagi™ Nu-Derm System which is a daily skin care system which is medically prescribed. Unlike expensive department store skin care products that merely cover up skin problems, the Nu-Derm System restores and then maintains the health of our skin starting at the cellular level.

The Obagi™ Blue Peel is an unique physician administered chemical peel that corrects deeper, more serious skin problems such as marked sun damage, fine to moderate superficial wrinkles and hyper-pigmentation. The Blue Peel is designed to be safer than traditional chemical peels, but just as effective.

Sclerotherapy

1. What is Sclerotherapy?
It is an injection technique to treat spider veins and small varicose veins on the legs.

2. How much does Sclerotherapy cost?
Sclerotherapy costs $350 to $450 depending on the severity of the condition. Health insurance companies consider this cosmetic and do not cover this treatment.

Skin Rejuvenation/fotofacial

How does the SR rejuvenate my skin?
The SR uses gentle light and electric energies to restore skin to a more youthful state. Brown spots (pigmented imperfections) from sun damage and aging, red blotchiness from spider vessels or rosacea (vascular imperfections), and rough skin texture will improve over a treatment series.

Is treatment with the SR safe?
Treatment is very safe for the skin. There are many advances in the SR technology that make it unparalleled for skin safety, without compromising effectiveness for treatment. There are no long term health hazards from light or electric energies used in the SR. Both have been used for decades in medicine, surgery, and aesthetics without adversity.

What kind of results can I expect from SR treatment?
Each SR treatment will result in gradual lightening and improvement of pigmented and vascular imperfections. Textural improvements are appreciated towards the end of the treatment series.

How frequently do I need treatments?
Treatments are repeated every month for a total of 5 treatments.

Does the treatment hurt?
The sensation is often described as "hot pinch", or "snapping" feeling. The sensation only lasts for fraction of a second, and you may feel warmth or tingling sensation for a short time afterward. Most people tolerate treatment without topical anesthetic, but individuals who are more sensitive may prefer to have the skin numbed before treatment.

What happens after each treatment?
Temporary pinkness in the skin lasts a very short time, and most people return to work or normal activities immediately after treatment. The improvement in pigmented and vascular irregularities can often be appreciated by the time you return for your next treatment a month later. Brown spots temporarily go darker before they lighten.

Who should get SR treatment for Skin Rejuvenation?
Anyone who wants to improve the signs of sun damage and aging in the skin, such as pigmented and vascular irregularities, uneven or rough skin texture. Skin rejuvenation can be done on face, neck, chest, hands, arms. Discuss your candidacy for this treatment with your clinician.

Thermage

1. What is the Thermage Procedure?
The Thermage procedure employs a patented radiofrequency (RF) technology called ThermaCool. It has been clinically proven to tighten and gently lift skin to smooth out wrinkles and renew skin contours. The incision-free procedure is fast and easy, and requires no downtime from normal activities. Unlike lasers, the procedure can be performed on patients of all skin types.

2. How does it work?
The ThermaCool device uses a sophisticated treatment tip called ThermaTip7, which delivers a controlled amount of RF energy. With each touch to the skin, the ThermaTip device uniformly heats a large volume of collagen in the deeper layers of the skin and its underlying tissue while simultaneously protecting the outer layer of the skin with cooling. This deep uniform heating action causes deep structures in your skin to immediately tighten. Over time, new and remodeled collagen is produced to further tighten skin, resulting in healthier, smoother skin and a more youthful appearance.

3. How old do you have to be for Thermage?
Although there are clinical trials underway to treat teenage acne (this is not FDA approved at this time), most patients do not start demonstrating collagen damage and skin laxity until their early thirties. Whenever skin laxity becomes noticeable is a good time to consider Thermage™. For more information call for a complimentary consultation or visit our Thermage webpage.

4. What does the Thermage Procedure feel like?
With each touch of the ThermaTip device, you will experience a brief, deep, heating sensation as the RF energy is delivered to your skin and underlying tissue. This deep heating sensation is your indication that your collagen is reaching effective temperatures for tightening. The physician controls the amount of energy delivered to balance procedural comfort with maximum results. The ThermaTip device is cooled before, during, and after heating to protect your skin and make the treatment more comfortable. Prior to treatment, an anesthetic cream may be applied to enhance your comfort. Additionally, your physician may also prescribe relaxants and/or pain medication.

5. When will I see results?
Recently published studies conducted by Thermage show that measurable tightening improvements appear gradually over 2 to 6 months after a single treatment session. However, many patients have reported seeing an earlier response.

6. How many treatments will I need?
Unlike many laser procedures requiring four or more sessions, a single Thermage treatment has produced results in the majority of patients. Your physician will determine the course of treatment that is right for you.

7. How long does the procedure take?
The Thermage procedure can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hour, depending on the size of the treatment area. Additional time may be required for skin preparation prior to the procedure.

8. What will my skin feel like after the procedure?
Immediately following a Thermage procedure, your skin should feel tighter, smoother and more youthful. Over time, you will notice additional tightening.

9. How long will the effects of the Thermage Procedure last?
The Thermage procedure causes immediate tightening of the collagen structure, with additional tightening over time. Unpublished reports by experienced cosmetic physicians indicate that results may last 24 months or longer based on the patient's natural aging process.

10. Is the Thermage Procedure safe?
The Thermage procedure has an excellent safety record. With over 70,000 estimated worldwide patient treatments to date the reported incidence of side effects is less than 1%. The most frequently reported incidents are classified as swelling, redness, bumps and blisters on or around the treated area. These side effects have disappeared in a few days or weeks. A rare (<0.2%) but longer lasting side effect described as a skin depression has also been reported. Consult with your physician regarding this and any other questions you may have on the safety record of the Thermage procedure.

11. How long before I can return to my normal activities?
Most people return to their regular activities immediately following the Thermage procedure. Some people experience mild redness (like a sunburn), but it usually disappears quickly. No special care is needed after the treatment unless otherwise instructed by your physician.

12. How much does the Thermage Procedure cost?
The cost for the Thermage procedure depends on the areas being treated. Certainly, the more treatment area involved, the more the procedure will cost. Your physician will discuss fees with you at the time of your consultation.

13. Can other body parts be treated with Thermage?

Yes! Dr. Bair is one of the only physicians in New Mexico trained in advanced techniques of body Thermage. He has successfully treated upper arms, abdomens, thighs, buttocks (lift), decolletage, hands, eyes by Thermage.

VelaShape™

How does the VelaShape improve the appearance of cellulite?
The VelaShape combines gentle light and radio frequency energies (ELOSTM) with mechanical rollers and vacuum suction to manipulate the superficial fat tissue layer that contributes to cellulite. The heat from the light and RF energies increases metabolism of this fatty layer and shrinks the size of fat cells. The mechanical rollers and vacuum suction act on the blood vessels to increase circulation to the local area, as well as massaging the skin to achieve a smoother, less dimpled surface appearance.

Is treatment with the VelaShape safe?
Treatment is very safe for all skin colors and can be performed even on tanned skin. There are no long-term health hazards from light or RF energies.

What kind of results can I expect from VelaShape treatment?
Gradual improvement of cellulite in treated areas, firmer and tighter skin surface is also reported. Most patients notice recontouring of areas such as saddlebags, love handles which are measurable by a reduction in circumference or girth. Added benefits of treatment include improved circulation and relief from muscles aches in the treated areas.

How frequently do I need treatments?
The initial treatment series consists of 4-6 treatment sessions- treatments are performed once a week. Some patients see the improvements as soon as after the first treatment. Others may need the full 6 sessions, but individual results vary depending on medical and genetic factors. Maintenance treatments are typically done once a month after the initial series in order to keep up the results achieved. Each treatment session is between 45-60 minutes long but this time varies depending on your size and how many treatment sites are indicated.

Does the treatment hurt?
VelaShape treatment may feel like a warm deep tissue massage for some patients, while it can feel uncomfortable or "pinchy" for others. The treatment settings are tailored to each patient according to individual sensitivity and gradually increased as tolerated.

What happens after each treatment?
The treated area may appear flushed or pink from the heat for a short while, and may feel warm for several hours after treatment. You can resume normal activities immediately.

Who should get VelaShape treatment for cellulite?
Anyone who wants improvement of the appearance of cellulite in the thighs, hips, buttocks, abdomen or upper arms. Contouring of unwanted bulges and disproportionate fatty areas is also a benefit of VelaShape treatments. The effects of body contouring and reduction of girth for some patients may be enhanced by compliance to healthy lifestyle. Discuss your individual candidacy for treatment with your VelaShape treatment provider.

What is the difference between VelaSmooth and VelaShape?
VelaShape is the new and improved version of the former VelaSmooth. VelaShape technology is able to deliver a higher wattage of radiofrequency and heat with each treatment providing more dramatic results with less treatments than VelaSmooth

What are the VelaShape™ advantages compared to other methods?
The advantage is technology. Today, there are no other methods available that include a combination of Bi-Polar RF, Infrared Light, Vacuum and Mechanical Massage like VelaShape™, and no other method can guarantee the clinically proven results, efficacy and safety in 4 treatments as the VelaShape™. VelaShape™ is the only non-surgical medical device cleared by the FDA for circumferential reduction.

Frequently Asked Questions

comfort

Hair Removal

Mesotherapy

Obagi™

ReFirme

Sclerotherapy

Skin Rejuvenation/Fotofacial

Thermage

VelaShape

Comfort

Hair Removal

Mesotherapy

ReFirme

Obagi™

Sclerotherapy

Skin Rejuvenation/fotofacial

Thermage

VelaShape™